MG Motor India has announced that it has shortlisted Driftly Electric, a smart EV charging solutions provider, under its Developer Program & Grant. This initiative is a part of MG’s commitment to support start-ups and further build the EV ecosystem. Launched in association with Adobe, Cognizant, SAP, Airtel, TomTom, and Unlimit, with TiE Delhi-NCR as the ecosystem partner, the MG Developer Program & Grant is aimed at providing support to innovative concepts in the automotive space.
As part of its business model, Driftly helps EV owners to find nearby charging points through a multiplatform app. It connects EV users to charging points set up by private individuals. The owners of the charging point can earn revenue as users come to charge their EVs. This helps in easier monetisation for owners of EV charging points, thus bridging a major need-gap in the Indian EV market.
Also Read: MG Gloster SUV Spotted Testing With Quad Exhaust Pipes
Launched in January 2020, Driftly will receive the grant to further expand its services through a peer-based ecosystem approach. Conceptualised by Sneha Roy and Ankur Edkie, Driftly Electric was launched to address the most prominent hurdle to faster EV adoption in India: the lack of a reliable and versatile charging network. Driftly was shortlisted after a thorough evaluation by the jury of the MG Developer Program & Grant. The carmaker received over 300 applications on its website, following which 60 start-ups were chosen for the first round of mentoring by a mentor panel from across all participating members. The company aims to further shortlist more start-ups depending upon the offering for further Grant amounts.
Speaking on the partnership, Rajeev Chaba, President & Managing Director, MG Motor India, said, “The aim behind the MG Developer Program & Grant is to support and accelerate the evolution of the ecosystem of smart mobility in Indian automotive landscape by bringing innovative ideas and solutions to the fore. We are delighted to shortlist and support Driftly, which will help further expand the EV infrastructure in India. Through this grant, we are looking forward to supporting its growth, as it is in sync with our long-term vision of catalysing India’s nascent EV market by creating an end-to-end and well-integrated charging ecosystem.”
Also Read: MG ZS EV Video Review
Speaking on the occasion, Sneha Roy, Co-Founder, Driftly Electric, added, “The lack of a reliable and versatile charging network is the most prominent hurdle to faster EV adoption in India. Driftly aims to address this need-gap by adopting a peer-based approach that helps hosts monetise their existing charging points while allowing EV owners to seamlessly discover charging locations close to them. We are delighted that a leading automotive player such as MG Motor India, which has been working towards strengthening the EV ecosystem in the country, has seen potential in our concept.”